People Australia

David Ritchie (1865-1947) miner, trade union official and alderman

Birth: 11 September 1865 at Cupar, Fifeshire, Scotland, son of David Ritchie [Ritchey] and Elizabeth Helen, née McQueen (1828-1907). Marriage: 27 October 1885 at Sydney, New South Wales, to native-born Mary Dobbie (1865-1951). They had three daughters and six sons. Death: 13 October 1947 at State Hospital and Home, Lidcombe, Sydney; usual residence Margaret Street Petersham, Sydney. Religion: Presbyterian. 

• Began work as an office boy in Scotland aged 12. Afterwards worked in various occupations, ultimately turning to shale mining.
• Arrived in Australia in 1883, settling in the Illawarra district, New South Wales. Participated in 1886 Bulli Colliery strike. Involved in rescue work after 1887 Bulli Colliery disaster.
• Had early association with Illawarra Colliery Employees' Association (ICEA); district check inspector for several years; district president c.1890-1900. Represented NSW miners on conciliation board established under 1892 Conciliation & Arbitration Act. Elected ICEA general secretary in 1900.
• Awarded medal for bravery by Royal Shipwreck Relief and Humane Society for rescue work after Mt. Kembla disaster 1902. Appointed one of the Royal Commissioners inquiring into causes of Mt Kembla disaster.
• A strong supporter of eight-hour principle and arbitration, he represented miners before Arbitration Court in 1902 Illawarra mining dispute.
• Strong advocate of co-operative principle. President Woonona Co-operative Society (1905). Active in Friendly Societies movement, being for two years NSW grand master of the Grand United Order of Oddfellows.
• Commissioned justice of the peace. Alderman on North Illawarra Council in the late 1890s. Represented ICEA at hearings before Court of Arbitration 1903-1905. Relinquished ICEA secretaryship about 1907 to go on the land. Was in the Richmond river district, NSW, in 1908 and a councillor for Gundurimba and later president of Dorrigo Shire in 1911-1918.
• Described as an estate agent on his death certificate. Cause of death: cerebral haemorrhage, diabetes and senility.

Sources
Robin Gollan, The coalminers of New South Wales: a history of the Union (Melbourne, 1963); Edgar Ross, A history of the Miners' Federation of Australia ([Sydney] 1970); Worker (Wagga), 25 February 1905, p 4.